Reply by 12strings

Update: I just watched the Paul Sellers sharpening video, and I don’t think that’s what I am thinking of, or describing what I do…I can’t find the video I saw (here’s an example…watch from the 1:50-2:10 mark to see the motion…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9DzOtsYxIA),

The difference was not in the stropping (I don’t own a strop, and don’t strop anything)...I stop at a 6000 grit waterstone.

It was that, starting at the grinding stage all the way up to honing, I eye-ball the angle I want (25 or 30 deg.) and start the iron at that angle closest to me, rock it back as I go forward, then bring it back to that angle each time. This doesn’t give you precise angles, but on a bevel-down plane, it doesn’t matter.

Do the disadvantages some have described apply to this method as well?

-- I'm strictly hand-tool only...unless the power tool is faster and easier!